A few years ago, Steve Stanley did virtually all of his hoof-care work at racetracks. It was work he loved — and still loves — but he decided adding a little variety to his shoeing practice might be a good thing.

So on this beautiful late summer morning in Lexington, Ky., he’ll start his day of “Shoeing For A Living,” at one of the area’s top Thoroughbred breeders, “Diamond A Farms,” where he takes care of trimming the hooves of some very valuable foals.

Stanley actually makes one stop before he heads to Diamond A Farms. He drops George, his 6-year-old son, off at his elementary school, as he does just about every day. He and his wife, Kathleen, also have a 3-year-old, Alexander. The stop not only lets Stanley start every morning with George, it also gives him a chance to chat with other fathers and mothers who are part of Lexington’s busy horse industry, when they drop their own children off.

8:13 a.m. When he arrives at the farm, his first stop is at the main office, where he drops off a sheet from the previous day’s trimming and picks up another that lets him know which foals he’ll be checking on today. He chats amiably with the farm manager, then drives out to Barn…